Hair clipper



Feb. 4, 193). w. KocouREK E1' AL HAIR CLIff'PER med Aug. 29, 1928 2 sheets-sheet m IH HY YH TINT H Ilm Y Feb'. 4, 1930. 'l y w, KocoUREK ET'AL 1,745,997

HAIR CLIPPER Filed Allg- 29, 1928 Sheets-Sheet 2 X aye/azar@ lPatented Feb. 4, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE y HAIR CLIPPER Application led August 29,

The purpose ofthis invention is to provide/an improved construction of a barbers hair 'clipper particularly adapted for easy graduation of thefcloseness of the cut by the I hand of the barber which grasps the tool Without interrupting the advance of the tool over the head from which the hair 1s cut. It consists in the elements and features of construction shown and described as ind1- cated in the claims.

IIn the drawings:

Figure 1 is a partlysectional side'elevation of a power driven hair clipper constructed according to the invention, section being made 1,5 at a vertical fore-and-aft plane through the forward part of the casing immediately above the vibrating cutter.

'Fig. 2 is a verticafsection through aportion of the clipper on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3. 2 Figure 34is a section at the plane 3-3 on Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a tool. i

Figure 5 is a`bottom plan viewv of a plate rigid with thecasing by means of which the combined cutter and comb member is slidingly mounted on the casing. v

Figure 6 is a topy plan View of the vlbratlng cutter. y Y p vFigure 7 is an enlarged lpartly sectional front elevation showing the comb and cutter. blades of the vibrating cutter; v

` Figure 8 is a view similarto Figure 1 showing a modified. form of the invention. y

Figure 9 is a detail side elevation of a portion ofthe forward end of the tool shown yin Figure 8. f

Figure 10 is a bottom plan view of the comb of the modification form shown in Figvure 8. .p

Figure 11 is a fragmentary perspective view of the forwardl end portion ofthe modification shown in Figure 8 with the vibrating cutter and its actuator removed. f

-Figure 12 is a top plan view of the plate employed in the modification sho'wninv Figure 8 which corresponds to that shown in Fignre 5.

Figure 13 isa top plan view of thesliding 5 comb of the modification shown in Figure 1.1'.

bottom vend plan view of the 1928. Serial No. 302,664. p

. Figure 14 isa front edge elevation of the plate shown in Figure 12.

Figure 15 is a view of the modification tutes a casing for the actuating niechanismtherefor. In the construction shown in Figures 1 to 5the casing constituting thebody has at the forward` end portion thereof a web, 20, which supports a terminal element of the actuating mechanism seen at 21'engagingthe vibrating cutter, 23, located immediately infront of said web, 21, Awhose .for-

ward edge serves as the guide for the vibrating movement of the cutter,22,. which is pron vided with upstanding lugs, 24, for engagement ofy the actuator,'21. Mounted rigidly upon the under side ofthe web', 20, there'isprovided a plate, 25, extending transversely withrespect to the advancingmovementofthe tool in hair cutting,-that is parallel with the vibratory movement of the vibrating cutter,-

for supporting in a manner hereinafterdescribed a combined comb and cutter blade v member, 30, upon whose upper face forward of the forward edge of said web, 20, the -vibrating cutter, 23,is lodged, the two parts co-operating for severing the hair in the reciprocation of ythe vibratory'7 cutter relatively to said combined 'cutter and comb, said combined member is engaged and carried in position for lodgment upon it and in co-- loperation with it ofthe vibrating cutter, 23,

by a tongue-and-groove engagement between ,said combined member, 30, and the plate, 25,

the latter being foimed withl down turned flanges at its opposite end between which the member, 30, is embraced', said flanges having tongues, 31, 31, andthe end edges of the combined member, 30, having grooves, 33, 33, which engage said tongues whereby the member, 30, is `mounted for slidin fore-and-aft with res ect to the body, A, of the tool, and also wit respect to the vibratory cutter, 23,

which has only the transverse vibratory movement, and which is xed as to its foreand-aft position. The comb teeth of the member, 3.0,which are also cutter teeth, are

relatively longer than the teeth of the Vibrating cutter, 23, and the parts are arranged for range of sliding movement of the member, 30, with respect to the member, 23, substantially equal to the excess of the length of the comb-and-cutter teeth of the combined member, 30, over that of the cutter teeth of the Vibrating cutter, 23; so that at the limit of the forward movement of the member, 30, the teeth of the two members co-operate perfectly for admitting the hair to be entered to the' full depth of the teeth, and for severing the hair at'that point; and at a retracted position of the member, 30, the teeth of the two members, still co-operate for cutting the hair admitted .to the full depth of the teeth of the vibrating cutter. The bar, 25, is provided at the middle point of itslength with a downwardly projecting lug, 36, and the combined cutter and comb member, 30, has a longitudinal slot, 37, through which said lug, 36, projects and in which there is lodged a coil spring, 40, positioned between the lug, 36, and the rear end of the slot, and when the 'spring is extended the member, 30, is retracted to the limit at which theelongated teethof said member stand projecting to a minimum extent beyond the teeth of the vibrating cutter, 23; so that when the combined cutter and comb member, 30, is engaged slidingly with thevbar, 25, the member, 30, is ,held yieldingly thusv retracted to the limit indicated; andthe slot terminates at its forward end suitably for stopping the member, 30, at that position by encounter of the forward end of the slot with the lug, 36, M

The member, 30, which at its `upper face at the forward part co-operates with the vibrating cutter, 23, for cutting is tapered in thickness increasing rearwardly from the forward points ofthe comb teeth as indicated at 39 nearly to the rear end of said member, 30, and in any event past the lineof'cut, being preferably convexly curved as to its lower surface as seen in Figure 1, and being rounded up at the rear endor heel beyond the point of maximum-'thickness orlimit of taper. For

operating the member, 30, to thrust it forwardly subject to retraction by the spring, 40, there is provided a flexible connector indicated in totality by the letter B, which extends from the rear end of the combined 4cutter and comb member, 30, rearwardly under the handhold portion, A1, of the body, A, to the rear end of the body, said connector being normally flexed away from the under side of the body opposite the handhold portion, andbeingheld thus flexed by the reaction of the spring, 40, on the comb and cutter member, 30, to which at its 'forward end said connector is pivotally attached as seen at 45. In thel form shown in Figures l to 5 this connector is a fiat sprin bar which by reason of its elastic iexibility o tains substantially pivotal connection at its rear .end

to the casing although secured rigidly by screw, L46.

If preferred for any reason this flexible connector instead of being. a spring bar may be a jointed member as in the form shown in Figures 8 and 9; and we do not limit ourselves to the particular form shown in Figure 1, though for certain reasons this may b e regarded as a preferred form of this connector.

Upon considering the construction as thus far described, it may be understood that the barber grasping the tool by the handhold portion A1 of the body will at the same ytime have the connector, B, in the grasp of his fingers at the under side of the handhold and that as the tool is advanced'over the head of the customer, the combined cutter and comb member, 30, being at its normal retracted position, the barber may hold the tool with the points of the comb teeth in touch with the surface of the skin and thereby will effect the clipping of the hair so as to leave a stubble only of the minimum length equal to the thickness-of the comb. teeth at a very short distance rearward fromvtheir points at which the line of cut is located, that line being very near the points ofthe teeth of the vibrating cutter when the tool is ofthe power operated type in which the rate of vibration is so rapid that the hairs are severed almost instantly upon entering the teeth and without delay for them to reach the bottom of the recesses between the teeth.

It will be seen that if it is desired, to raduate the cut the barber may obtain this result while still holding the tool with the points of the comb teeth in touch wit the skin, by merely exerting pressure withf is lingers on the flexible connector, B, without materially altering his grasp upon the'tool for guiding it, the straightening of the'normally flexed connector which is caused by such pressure operating to thrust the cutter and comb member, 30, forwardly along the line of its sliding engagement with the body maintaining it in perfect co-operat-ing relation with the vibrating r:utter, but increasing the distance between the plane of cut and the skin by reason of the tapered thickness of the combined comb and cutter. y

And it will be seen that this graduation can be effected to the limit of the increase of thickness ofthe tapered `portion of the part, 30, from the forward points of the combteeth backY to the position on the comb teeth at which the line ofcut becomes located when roo the member, 30, is thrust forward to the limit I of the thrust movement which can be effected modification to described consists in substituting for the flat spring bar as connector,

a jointed member of which each part is or may be non-resilient in itself, the two parts indicated at and 51, respectively being pivoted together as seen at 52 at a point opposite the handhold portion of the body, the part, 50, being pivotally connected at its forward end ,to the member, 30, as in the earlier figures, and the part, 51, being pivotally connected at its rear end to the body toward the rear end.

The second modification referred to consists in applying the feature of a comb tapered in thickness and longitudinally adjustable, to a hair clipper of not uncommon type in which the fixed or non-vibrating cutter is distinct from the comb, or at least in which there is provided acomb member not integralwith and in that sense distinct from--the non-vibrating cutter blade. In Figures 8, `9 and 15' the non-vibrating cutter blade is seen at mounted'on a forwardly projecting lug of the l plate, 61, which corresponds to the plate, 25,

Yof the earlier figures.

v'And the comb member, 62; is slidingly mounted by tongue-and-groove engagement with the plate, 61, 'in the same manner as in which the earlier figures, the member, 80, is engaged with the plate',-25. AThe spring, 65, in these figures corresponds to the spring, 40, in the'earlier figures, and -is similarly accommodatedin a slot, 67, in the sliding comb member, 62, whereinl it is stopped at ,the forward end by a lug,"66, projecting from the plate, 61, corresponding tothe lug, 36, ofthe earlier figures. f y

Upon considering this construction it will be seen that it will operate in the same manner as the form shown in the earlier figures in respect to graduating thelength of the stubble by the pressure of the barbers fingers on the jointed iexible connector.

1. In a barbers power-driven hair clipper,

in combination with a body for housing the power driven mechanism and affording a handhold for guiding the tool Ain operation.,

a toothed cutter blade and power operated means for moving it for cutting; a member mounted slidingly in the body having at its forward end comb teeth relatively longer than the cutter blade teeth and adapted for sliding on the body for protruding the comb teeth forwardly ofthecutter teeth substantially to the extent of the excess of length of said comb teeth over the cutter teeth; a spring reacting between the body and comb member for holding the comb member yieldingly at a position of minimum 'protrusion ofthe comb teeth ;,l and aflexible connector extending under the handhold between the comb member and a rearwardly situated point of connection of' said connector with .thebody. l

2. In the construction defined in claim 1, the comb-toothed member having its comb teeth adapted also to serve as cutter teeth, said memberbeing mounted for its sliding movement suitably for cutting co-operation of its said teeth with the teeth of the moving cutter blade.

y 3. In a barbers hair clipper, in combination withy a body for carrying hair-severing means and for housing operating mechanism therefor, said hair-severing means comprising a toothed vibrating cutter blade, a combtoothed member having its comb teeth relatively longer than the teeth of the vibrating cutter blade, said member being mounted for movement on the body transversely to the direction of vibration ofthe cutter blade for protruding the comb teeth forwardly of .the teeth of the cutter vblade substantially to the amount of the excess length of the comb teeth over the cutter teeth; spring the comb-toothed member being mounted upon the body in position to constitute the support of the tool in its advancing movement for hair severing and being tapered thickening from the point of the comb teeth rearwardly beyond the line of cut; whereby the length of thestubble may be graduated without requiringthe barber to lift the points of the comb out of contactwith the scalp.

5. In the construction defined inclaim 1, the comb-toothed member being positioned for affording the support of the tool on the head of the person served by it at the line of cut and being tapered from the points of the teeth rearwardly to a line somewhat rearward of the line of cutrfor graduating the stubble length by fore-and-aft adjustment of said comb member without lifting. the points of the comb teeth from the scalp.

6. A. power driven barbers hair clipper having a body comprising a ,handhold portion and having in combination therewith a comb-and-cutter blade and .a vibrating cutter blade, the combined member having its ino comb teeth relatively longer than the teeth 3 of the vibrating cutter blade and being the excess of length of the comb teeth over the teeth of the vibrating cutter spring v means reacting for holdin the comb member at a retracted position o minimum protrusion of the comb teeth beyond the cutter teeth, and a flexible connector extending bel tween the rear end of the comb member and handhold for guiding the tool in operation,

said body carrying co-operatmg cutter b'lades and a comb member, the comb member having its comb teeth longer by a substantial. extent than the length ofthe teeth of the vibrating cutter, said comb member being mounted upon the body for fore-and-aft sliding movement to vary the extent of protrusion of com'b teeth forwardly of the points of the cutter teeth, a spring reacting between the comb member and the body for holding the comb retracted to a position of minimum protrusion of the comb teeth beyond the cutter teeth, a Vflexible` connector extending between the rear end of the comb member and the rear end portion of the body back of the handhold thereof and dimensioned relatively to the distance between its end connections at the retracted position of the comb member for being flexed at its middle portion outwardly from the handhold, said outwardly flexed portion being positioned for being grasped by the operator in grasping the handhold.

8. A power driven tool of the character of a barbers hair clipper comprising a body tor housing the power driven mechanism and aiording the handhold for operating it, a non-vibratory combined cutter and comb member mounted on the body for adjustment in fore-and-aft direction, and a vibrating cutter lodged upon said combined member, and the latter being tapered in thickness toward the point of the comb teeth, spring means for yieldingly maintaining said member at o ne limit of fore-and-aft adjustment, andl means associated with the handhold of the body and connected with the combined member for thrusting it forward by movement of said means against the. reaction of the spring means which may be caused by tightening the toperators hand grasp of the tool'.

9.l The construction defined in claim 8, the body having opposite side edges parallel at the portion of its length at which the comb moves and the comb having its lateral edges flanged downwardly for embracing the parallel edges of the body and the body and comb being co-operatively formed for tongue-andgroove engagement of thev comb and body throughout a range of sliding adjustment of the comb on the body, whereby the grinding 1,745,997 l y i of the cutting face of the comb for sharpening does not affect the tongue and groove fea` tures. v

l0. In the construction defined in claim 8, the means for thrusting the comb forward against@ the resistance of the yielding spring means comprising a longitudinally extending member at the under side of the handhold part of the body in position to be grasped by the operator in grasping the body for operating the tool.

11. In a barbers hair clipper in combina tionwith a body affording a handhold for the operator, carrying the hair .-severing means and housing the actuating mechanism therefor, a member mounted on the body at the under side thereof for lodgment and support of the tool in its advance over the head., said member being engaged with the body for movement longitudinally thereof and being tapered in thickness increasing from the front end rearwardly past the line of cut, a spring reacting between the body and said member for holding it yieldingly at a rearwardly retracted position, and u flexible connector eX- tending longitudinally of the body on the handhold, connected at its forward end to said tapered memberl and at the rear end to the body somewhat rearwardly of the hand hold, said connector being normally iexed away from the handhold at a medial portion ot' its length within the Grasp of the fingers of the operator when grasping the handhold when. operating the tool in hair cutting.

12. A power driventooi of the character of a barbers hair clipper comprising a body for housing the power driven mechanism and afording the handhold for operating it, a nonvibratory combined cutter and comb member mounted on the body for adjustment in fore-and-aft direction and yieldingly urged toward one of itslimits of movement, a Vibratory cutter lodged upon said combined member, the latter being tapered in thickness toward the point of the comb teeth, and means on the body located within reach of the tingers of the operator in grasping the body for hair cutting operation, adapted for thrusting said combined member in the direction `opposite to the yielding opposition.

y In testimony whereof, we have hereunto set our hands this 23rd day of August, 19:28.

STEPHEN MINARIK. a WILLIAM KOCOUREK.

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